Austin-Travis County EMS

www.atcems.org

512.972.7200

STAY SAFE IN THE SUMMER HEAT

Tips for Preventing

Heat Emergencies

and Hyperthermia

Don’t risk your child’s life by leaving them

in the car. A child’s body can heat up five

times faster than an adult’s and even in

cooler weather, cars can heat up to

dangerous temperatures very quickly. On

a mild day, the temperature inside a car

can rise 20 degrees above the outside

temperature in just 10 minutes or less.

Make a habit of checking your vehicle

before leaving it. Look before you

lock!

Keep a stuffed animal or other

reminder next to you in the car as a

cue that your child is with you.

If you ever see a child alone in a

car, dial 9-1-1 immediately!

NEVER LEAVE YOUR

CHILD ALONE IN A CAR Changing the Lives of the People We Serve

DON’T FORGET OUR

FURRY FRIENDS

Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so make

sure you take precautions to keep your pet

safe.

Give your pet plenty of water when

it’s hot outdoors. Make sure to fill

their water bowl before you leave.

Make sure they have a shady place to

get out of the sun.

Be careful not to over-exercise your

pet. Too much playtime in the hot sun

is dangerous for them.

Hot asphalt and tar can burn sensitive

paw pads, walk your pet on grass or

dirt when possible.

Keep your pet indoors when it’s

extremely hot outside.

Never leave your pet in a car! Pets

can overheat in minutes so don’t put

them at risk! Leave them home in hot

weather.

A U S T I N - T R A V I S C O U N T Y E M E R G E N C Y M E D I C A L S E R V I C E S

Our Central Texas summers are filled with

plenty of outdoor activities and fun in the

sun. If you are planning on being outdoors

on a hot summer day you can take simple

precautions to keep you and your family

members safe from the summer heat.

Stay cool and make simple changes in your

fluid intake, activities and clothing during

hot weather to help reduce the risk of

hyperthermia and heat stroke.

Pack your cooler with water, ice and

cool packs or cloths. Avoid caffeinated

and alcoholic beverages which are

diuretics and can dehydrate you.

Dress for the heat in loose, light

colored clothing, wear a hat and use

sunscreen.

Stay hydrated and drink more water

than usual, 2 to 4 eight ounce cups of

water every hour when outside for

long periods of time, and when

performing strenuous work or

exercise.

Don’t over-exercise, take breaks and

seek the shade or air conditioning to

cool yourself down.

Keep an eye on children, pets and the

elderly for signs and symptoms of heat

exhaustion and heat stroke.

PREVENTION IS THE KEY TO SAFE FUN IN THE SUN

WARNING S IGNS

AND SYMPTOMS OF

HEAT EMERGENCIES

S IGNS OF HEAT EXHAUST ION HEAVY SWEATING WEAKNESS COLD, PALE AND CLAMMY SKIN FAST, WEAK PULSE NAUSEA OR VOMITING URINE DARK IN COLOR OR

LACK OF NEED TO URINATE;

YOU SHOULD URINATE AT

LEAST ONCE EVERY 3 -4 HOURS

WHAT TO DO : MOVE TO A COOLER

LOCATION

LIE DOWN AND LOOSEN YOUR

CLOTHING

APPLY COOL, WET CLOTHS OR

COMPRESSES TO AS MUCH OF

YOUR BODY AS POSSIBLE

SIP WATER

I F YOU HAVE VOMITED AND IT

CONTINUES, SEEK MEDICAL

ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY

SIGNS OF HEAT STROKE

HIGH BODY TEMPERATURE (ABOVE

103°F)

HOT, RED, DRY OR MOIST SKIN

RAPID AND STRONG PULSE

POSSIBLE UNCONSCIEOUSNESS

WHAT TO DO:

CALL 9-1-1 IMMEDIATELY—THIS IS A

MEDICAL EMERGENCY

MOVE THE PERSON TO A COOLER

ENVIRONMENT

REDUCE THE PERSON’S BODY TEM-

PERATURE WITH COOL CLOTHS OR

EVEN A BATH

DO NOT GIVE THE PERSON FLUIDS

FINAL NOTE:

MILD HEAT EMERGENCIES CAN QUICKLY

AND CONTINUALLY PROGRESS TO

SEVERE HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT

STROKE IF LEFT UNTREATED.